PITTSBURGH — Twenty-seven students from across the city will meet at the Heinz History Center for the next 15 weeks for Pittsburgh’s first-ever Youth Civic Leadership Academy.
The first-of-its-kind program will afford students college credits, a stipend and for some, their first look at how government is run.
“Our kids today are facing a world today that none of us ever could have imagined,” Mayor Ed Gainey said.
The city of Pittsburgh has seen 10 teen homicides this year, and as youth violence increases, the mayor’s office is presenting a new resolution: the civic leadership academy.
“You will be the first class in a historic move to put our young people first,” Gainey said.
Students who applied and were accepted into the program will have the opportunity to earn college credits through CCAC and collect a stipend through the partner-for-work program. For many, it will be their first look at how the government works.
“We came up with a peace plan, and this a part of that instrument,” Gainey said.
Becoming an instrument for peace and a civic changemaker is why 10th grader Raujenay Rixey immediately signed up to participate in the academy.
“I just spent my entire lunch filling out the application,” Rixey said.
Rixey works at Kennywood and says the recent shooting that injured three people — two of them teenagers — shouldn’t have happened. A teenager is also accused of firing the shots.
“They didn’t need to get violence or guns in general involved,” said Rixey.
Rixey says through this program, she hopes to amplify her voice and advocate for a better Pittsburgh, both for herself and her peers.
“I wanted to learn leadership, to be more out there and help more people,” she said.
The application process is now closed.
This group of students will graduate from the program in January, with the hopes of ushering in the next class.
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